Ice maker



Sept. 13, 1955 c, J, KNERR 2,717,497

ICE MAKER Filed Sept. 15, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

C. J. KN ERR Sept. 13, 1955 ICE MAKER 8 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed Sept. 15, 1954 C. J. KNERR Sept. 13, 1955 ICE MAKER 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 15, 1954 Sept. 13, 1955 c. J. KNERR 2,717,497

ICE MAKER Filed Sept. 15, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 4 M IIIIIIIIIIII Sept. 13, 1955 c. J. KNERR ,497

, ICE MAKER Filed Sept. 15, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 47' 7' ORA f Y n-i/ llllllllllllllllll-lll'llllllf A Sept. 13, 1955 c, J, KNERR 2,717,497

ICE MAKER Filed Sept. 15, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I N V EN TOR. (3904 J/M/E/PR g Ari-0mm) United States Patent O ICE MAKER Carl J. Knerr, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 15, 1954, Serial No. 456,106 19 Claims. (c1. 62-104) This invention relates to automatic making, harvesting,

drying, and storing of ice pieces, generally called ice cubes.

This invention relates particularly to ice makers like those disclosed and claimed in the copending patent applications of Sven W. E. Andersson, Serial No. 205,519,

filed January 11, 1951, and of Harry C. Shagaloff, Serial No. 325,097, filed December 10, 1952.

Briefly, the above copending Andersson application discloses an ice maker wherein an ice mold, located in the freezing compartment of a household refrigerator, is divided into ice forming compartments, each having a generally arcuate contour so that pieces of ice may be readily turned or swept from the mold by relative turning movement between the mold and the ice pieces. The ice removing action is automatic, as is the filling of the mold, freezing, and loosening of the ice pieces. The ice pieces are detained for thorough drying before discharge to storage. The automatic operation is stopped short of discharge of ice to storage, and remains suspended during the time that a desired quantity of ice pieces is held in storage. In the specific structure disclosed in this Andersson application, power for operating the ice release and the control mechanisms is provided by a hydraulic motor which also measures and delivers a quantity of water to the ice mold for freezing.

The above copending Shagaloff application discloses an automatic ice maker wherein an ice mold and an ejector mechanism are located within the low temperature or freezing compartment of a household refrigerator.

The ice mold is placed in thermal contact with a freezing shelf to which is attached a freezing coil, and the interior of the mold is divided into a plurality of ice forming compartments, each having a generally arcuate contour so that the ejector mechanism, which is mounted about the mold, may rotate through the ice forming compartments of the mold and sweep the ice pieces therefrom, in the same general manner as that disclosed in the above Andersson application. With the Shagaloff ice maker, one of the ice forming compartments of the mold is partially insulated from the freezing shelf and from the low temperature of the refrigerator in a manner that the water in this compartment, is last to freeze and the ejector mechanism is energized responsive to the freezing of this water. The ice removing action is automatic, as is the filling of the mold, freezing, and loosening of the ice pieces. The ice pieces are detained on the ejector mechanism for thorough drying before discharged to storage. The automatic operation is stopped short of discharge of ice to storage and remains suspended during the time that a desired quantity of ice is held in storage. Power for operating the ejector mechanism and the control mechanism therefor is provided by a geared electric motor. This motor is of the type that will stall while energized when the ejector mechanism contacts the ice frozen solidly in the mold without burning out or otherwise harming the motor. The electric motor and the measuring vessel for supplying a measured quantity of 2,717,497 Patented Sept. 13, 1955 Free water to the ice mold are located on the rear exterior wall of the refrigerator.

The disclosures of the above copending patent applications of Sven W. E. Andersson and of Harry C. Shagaloif may be considered parts of this instant application and reference thereto may be made for detailed description of parts in common with the instant application.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for automatically making, harvesting, drying and storing ice pieces.

More specific objects of the invention are:

To provide an improved ice mold for simultaneously freezing a plurality of pieces of ice;

To provide an improved heat transfer device and thermostat for sensing the temperature of water being frozen;

To provide an improved reset heater for the thermostat;

To provide an improved ejector mechanism for removing pieces of ice from freezing surfaces;

To provide an improved power transmission forthe ejector mechanism with means incorporated therein for loading and unloading such transmission;

To provide a precision water metering device for measuring exact quantities of Water to be frozen; and

To provide improved controls and safety cut-outs for an automatic ice maker particularly adapted for use with a household refrigerator.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in more technical detail in the following description and accompanying drawings, where- Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective showing basic parts of the ice maker in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the freezing compartment of a household refrigerator, showing the ice maker in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the ice maker, with parts'in horizontal section, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of the controls for the ice maker;

Fig. 4A is a partial modification of the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the ice maker, taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section, taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective of the ice mold insert, the temperature sensing element and the reset heater;

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section through the freezing compartment of the refrigerator and the ice maker, taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section through the ice mold, taken substantially on line 99 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section, taken substantially on line 10-10 of Fig. 3 and with parts broken away;

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section, taken substantially on line 11-41 of Fig. 3, and with parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of the ice maker;

Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical section through the gear housing and taken substantially on line 1313 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical section through the timing gears and taken substantially on line 1414 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section through the solenoidoperated water valve, taken on line 1515 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a transverse horizontal section through a portion of the rear closure member of the ice mold and the thermostat sensing element, taken substantially on line..16?.16. of Fig. 5, and showing the reset heater and safety cutout in bottom plan;

Fig. 17 is a transverse section through the safety cutout;. 1,

Fig. 18 is a transverse verticaLsectiontaken on line 18--.1 8 of .Fig.. 16, andshowing the thermostat sensing element.infrontelevation; --Fig..l9 isaverticalsectiontaken on line 1919 of Fig. 10, and showing. the microswitches in .side.elevation; and

Fig. 20 isadetail of parts of the microswitch, and cam mechanism for energizing the solenoid water valve.

General Description Referring .to Fig. ,2 of the drawings, the ice inak indicated. generally byflreference numeral 10, is located within the upper or freezing compartment 12 of a'house- .hold refrigerator 14. The ice maker is inserted through ,aaopening 15 in the rearwall of the refrigerator, which opening is closed by a closure member 16 attached by .screws. tosaidrear wall. .The only parts of the ice maker that..project beyond the closure member 16 is a water connection 103aand electrical connections T1 and T2, .to. be. referred to in detail hereinafter. The front of the .refrigeratorisclosed by the usual door 17. The freezing compartment 12, iscooled by a refrigerating coil 18 attached to, the bottom, wall thereof and forming an evaporator of a, suitable refrigerating system, not shown. r-Resting on the, bottom wall of the freezing compartment below andto, the. right of the ice maker, as viewed in Fig. 8, is an ice receptacle 19, a dapted to receive and store..ice pieces discharged from the -ice maker. O nly so. much.of .the refrigerator as is necessary for a complete understanding of this invention is shown in the drawlngs. ..a-.=.Referring n owto Fig. l, the ice maker includes, generally, an ice mold,20, a mold heating element 30, a freezer .shel; 32 upon which the mold is supported andwhich is cooled byarefrigerating coil, 33, which coil is attached to the refrigerating system, not shown. The ice mold is .surroundedatthe sides, front and bottom bythermal inlsulation and the insulation, is encased inan insulation housing, to be referred to in detail hereinafter. The rear ice-fo m ng co pa tm n o u eiw m l i l$ by a combined closure member and support tmyghich member is formed of plastic, such as phenol forrnaldehyde, or other suitable thermal and electrical insulating material. :An ejector ,mechanism '70 is mounted above theice mold for r m v m nt er qu for $W t ice tpiec,es-.therefrom,,and .is journalled at its front v end in'a hearing at the upper front end of the mold and at its reanis the rear closurernember 4 0.

The rear closure memberj-lt) is, generally in the shape -ofia box, open at the rear aud closed by a metal closure .pleter t. i h r l s t p a e .1. Supp t t r inimswitches 140, 150 and 160, and provides bearingsurfaces 101' .arear ejector shaft Z6 and a timingge ar shaft 86, to be referred to indetail hereinafter. Of the three micro- .switches: the microswitch 140 is operated by a. cam 156 ,on, the timing gear shaft 8 6 to deenergize and. reenergize a compressor motor 180 (see wiring diagram, Fig.4) .gflthe refrigerator systemand to establish and interrupt holding.circuits, at .the beginning andeud, respectively, of an ice release cycle; the'microswitch 150 isIoperat'ed by the same earn ;156 and this microswitch eriergizes :and deenergizes a solenoid-operated water-valve ltltl (Fig. ,3.) .forra precise number of secon cls nearlheiendo fieach ice release cycle; and the microswitch 160 is operated by prams-surface 156p on thefront of cam 156, and'acts'a's a, cutoff to automatically deenergize the i ce maker. when the ice receptacle 19 is filled with a given amountio fice pieees. The. microswitchlt) is adapted for manualoperation, as pointedout hereinafter.

ouuted on the rear o f the me 211 closure plate {i l 'is a gear hgusing 83, which contaihs 'ar 'id journalslan Qiector :gear] timing gear assembly 85 and a more; gear 82. The-timing'gear assembly is a form of Geneva movement,

4 t9 be referred to indetail thereafter. An eleetric motor 30 for driving the ejector mechanism and the controls therefor is mounted on the rear of the gear housing 83. This electric motor is geared down from 3400 R. P. M. to approximately 2.5 R. P. M. at its output shaft, and is of a type that stalls while energized when the ejector blades initially contact the ice frozen solidly in the mold, without burning out or ,otherwise. harming the motor. A motor of this type is disclosed and claimed in a copcndingpatent application of Sven; W, Andersson.

Serial No. 325,145, filedDecember 10, 1952,

Mounted on the .right side of the ejector motor 80 (Fig. 3) is a precision solenoid-operated water valve 100. The inlet of valve 100, is eonnected toga suitable source 1 of water under pressure, such as the house line, and the outlet is connected by a conduit 116 to the rear of a vertical passage 42 formed in the rear closure and support member; 40, which passage diseharges ,water through an outlet 42a (Fig.1) into the rear ice-forming compartment of the mold. A mold thermostat 122 and a ireset heater 130 for the moldthermostat, each to be referred to in detail hereinafter, are mounted on the rear of the ice maker.

Ice mold Referring now to Figs. 1, 3 and 5 to 9, inclusive, the ice mold 2% comprises an aluminum die casting divided into a plurality of. ice-forming compartments 21 by transverse partitions-ZZ. The ice-forming compartments are generally semi-circular in transverse vertical section, and the partitions are tapered horizontally from the right to the left side thereof as viewed from the front in Fig. 3. For reasons pointed out hereinafter, the partitions have a slight taper in the vertical direction. The partitions are each jprovided withan upstanding projection 23 on the'r'ight side and with a weir or notch 24in theleft side thereof, as viewed in 'Fig. 8. A thermal insulator 25, 'made of nylon or the like, is fitted uponeach of the upstanding projections 23 of the mold 'p'artitiohs. As shown in Fig. 8, and as pointed out hereinafter, the insulators 25 support one side of the 'ice pieces during tlieldrying thereofgprevent theice from sticking to 'the upstanding projectionsof the mold partitions and strip the ice 'pie ces from the lejector mechanism should they become frozen thereto due to prolonged standing. The outer 'surraee or eachofthe Weir's 24 is of the same general cur vatiire as the inner 'surfaceof the ice mold compartments, and the Iinn'er surface of the weirs ,is substantially vlertic'al. As v ewed in'Fig. 3, the weirs are progressively smaller from 'th'erear to thefront of the mold. I

Referring ltoF ig. 8, the ice mold is provided with an upstanding and offset flange 26 aloiigthe leftsidethereof, which flange iscla pfifl in heat eitcha nge relation with the left side of the: freezing CouiPartinentTZ by a clamp 27 secured by ap lurality of screws 27 m1' ohe 9f whichjis shown in Fig. '8, The front re'ar walls 28 and 29, respectively, of the ice fmlold slant outward r m. right to l ft, s vie d fr m "the "from tia a-.3- The mo1d.hea t er 30, in the forrnjof a;hairpincoil,fis lovided with a washer 37a. The front'of the old is'sha'p as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with an integral boss 38 drilled to receive a bearing 38a (Fig. 5) made of nylon or other suitable thermal insulating material, and the bearing is provided with a filler 38b made of neoprene rubber, or like material. The filler 38b takes care of contraction and expansion of any water that may enter the bearing 38a as water vapor and freeze and thaw therein. The bearing 38a receives and supports the front end of the ejector shaft 71, to be referred to hereinafter. As shown in Figs. 3 and 9, the front ice-forming compartment of the mold is formed with an overflow duct 39 that insures against excess filling of the ice-forming compartments. With the precision solenoid water valve for filling the ice-forming compartments of the mold, to be described in detail hereinafter, the chances of excess filling from this source are rare; it is possible, however. Also, it is possible that an excess of thaw water may remain in the mold compartments at the end of an ejecting cycle, and this Water may cause excess filling at the next filling cycle. at the side of the mold, the overflow duct 38 is provided. In case of overflow, the duct 39 discharges into the ice receptacle 19 located beneath and to the right of the mold, as shown in Fig. 8.

Ice mold insulation So as to confine the heat transferred to the refrigerating coil 33 to that extracted from the water in the ice mold compartments and transferred therefrom through the mold and the freezer plate 32 to the coil, and to add to the decorative appearance of the ice maker, the mold is provided with insulation and with decorative housing members at the sides, front and bottom thereof. The insulation members are made of unicellular sponge rubber that is impervious to moisture and, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, 8 and 9, include a right side member 51, a left side member 52, a front member 53 and a bottom member 54. The side and front insulation members are formed to fit the exterior contour of the ice mold, and the bottom insulation member is cut out (as shown in Fig. l) to receive the refrigerating coil 33, the screws 36 and 37 for attaching the ice mold to the freezer shelf and a set of screws 64 for attaching this bottom insulation housing to the freezer shelf.

The insulation housing members, which are preferably made of a thermal insulating, moisture-proof and decorative material, such as white polystyrene, include a right side member 55, a bottom member 56 and a front member 57. The right side member (Fig. 8) is formed with an inwardly and upwardly projecting flange 58 adapted to fit within a groove 59 (Fig. 6) along the upper right side of the ice mold and with a lower inwardly extending flange provided with a groove 60 (Fig. l) to receive the right upper edge of the bottom housing member 56. The bottom housing member 56 is dish-shaped, open at the back, and includes spacing ribs 61, which provide a space between this member and the bottom insulation member 54, and two openings 62 and 63, (Figs. 1 and 5) for access to the screws 36 and 37. This bottom housing member is attached to the freezer shelf by four screws 64, located at the front and back at each side thereof. Also, the bottom housing member 56 is provided with a channel 65 at the front left corner thereof (Figs. 1 and 9) to receive the lower end of the overflow duct 39 of the ice mold. The front insulation housing 57 is shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 and is attached by a screw 66 to a bracket 67, which bracket is attached to the front upper portion of the ice mold by a pair of screws 68 (Figs. 3 and 5). The front closure member 57 is formed with access openings at the top and front thereof, and the front opening is closed by a decorative, spring-held disk 57a (Figs. 1 and 5). As shown in Fig. 2, the insulation housing members present a neat, decorative structure around the ice mold, and any moisture that may migrate Therefore, rather than have a possible overflow into the mold insulation during freezing periods iscollected in the bottom housing member and drains therefrom through the openings 62 and 63 into the ice receptacle 19 during the ice thawing periods, as pointed out hereinafter.

Ejector mechanism As shown in Figs. 3 and S, the ejector mechanism 70 includes a front ejector shaft 71 mounted for clockwise rotation at its front end in the nylon bearing 38a at the front of the ice mold and at its rear end in a suitable hearing 71a (Fig. 1) located in the rear closure member 40, which member, as pointed out heretofore, is made of thermal insulating material. Extending tangentially (Fig. 8) from one side of the front ejector shaft 71, and formed integral therewith, is a plurality of ejector blades 72; there being one such blade for each ice-forming compartment 21 of the ice mold 20. The ejector shaft 71 is mounted in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the ice mold, and as shown in Fig. 8, is spaced from the upper edges of the mold partitions 22. At the rear, this ejector shaft is connected by a thermal insulating coupling 74 (Fig. 5) to a rear ejector shaft 76, which rear ejector shaft is connected to the ejector motor by a novel timing gear assembly (Fig. l), to be described in detail hereinafter. As shown in Fig. 8, 'the outer upper edges of the ejector blades '72 cooperate with the insulators 25 in supporting the ice pieces above the ice mold for drying wetted surfaces thereof before discharge into the storage receptacle 19.

Power and timing mechanism As pointed out heretofore, the electric motor 80 for driving the ejector mechanism 70 and the controls therefor is a stall motor equipped with internal gears (not shown) for reducing its speed from 3400 R.P.M. to approximately 2.5 R.P.M. at its output shaft 81. The motor field winding 80a and overload limit switch 80b are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4. The motor output shaft 81 (Figs. 1 and 3) is formed with a square portion 81a upon which is keyed a gear 82. The motor gear 82 is meshed with a rear gear 87 of the timing gear assembly 85, which timing gear assembly is fixedly mounted on a shaft 86, journalled at its rear in a bearing 86a (Fig. 3) formed in the gear housing 83 and at its front in a bearing 86b formed in the metal closure plate 41 (Fig. 1). In front of the gear 87 (as viewed in Fig. 3) is a timing gear 38 having a toothed portion 88a and a blank portion 8812 on the periphery thereof (Fig. 14). In front of the timing gear 88 (Fig. 3) is a timing cam 90 having a high portion 90a and a low portion 90!) (Fig. 14) on the periphery thereof. The gears 87 and 88 and the cam 90 are held as an assembly by dowel pins 91. Fixedly mounted on the rear ejector shaft 76, and in mesh with the teeth of timing gear 88, is an ejector gear 77, and in front of the ejector gear (Fig. 3) and fixed to the rear ejector shaft 76 is an ejector cam 78 having a high portion 78a and a low portion 7812 on the periphery thereof (Fig. 14).

The arrangement is such that upon rotation of the ejector motor 80, the motor gear 82 (Figs. 3, 13 and 14) rotates the rear gear 87 of the timing gear assembly, which two gears have meshing teeth throughout the 360 of their periphery, and rotation of the gear 87 causes rotation of the timing gear 88 and of the timing cam 90. As the timing gear 88 is rotated, the toothed portion 83a thereof is brought into mesh with the teeth of the ejector gear 77, which latter gear is provided with teeth throughout the 360 of its periphery, whereupon the ejector gear 77, the rear ejector shaft 76, the ejector cam 78 and the front ejector shaft 71 are rotated in unison. Rotation of the ejector gear 77 continues (neglecting for the present the stalling of the ejector mechanism by contact of the ejector blades 72 with the ice frozen solidly in the mold cornpartments) until the blank portion 88b of the timing gear 88 is juxtaposed with the teeth of the ejector gear 77 at which time the high portion 90a of the timing cam 90 is in mesh with the low portion 78b (Fig. '14) of :the ejector can 7;, heteupen the ejector gear 77 and sit-stars an; 71 are held stationary while the ejector motor 80, the motor gear 82, and the timing gear assembly 85 and cam 90 continue to rotate for a definite period Before the motor is deenergized. Thus the ejector motor is unloaded during this period of an ejecting cycle, andduring aporli t 'a t d irhe t e @P Q l!n1?l th sa enoid valve 1Q0 is energized t9 refill fthe ice mold with water, as p'oint ed out h ereinafter During a a freezing cycle b a ng. st s ias trait a d the ne a r 77 a s nt a ly.in.t is tivez e tip t h wa fi 4 w t the-hi P 2 i i ont t t lthe 'lo'vfv portion 78b of cam 78. Thus the ejector mechanism is locked in the position shown in Fig. 8 for drying the ice pieces resting thereon. l

Water metering and. mold filling mechanism Mounted on a'br'ack'et 101 on the side 'of the ejector motor 80 is the sciIenUid-operatedWater valve 1% (Figs. '3 and 12'). This valve is a precision mechanism, in that it accuratelymeter's a defiiiite quantity of water therethrough whenopen; the opening arid'cl'osin'g'of which is accurately tim ed as pointed out hereinafter. Referring now to Fig. '15, this v'alve includes a bodyr'n'ern'ber 102 having an inlet connection 103 'and'an 'outlet'cohnection 107 (Fig. 12). The inlet connection is provided with a nipple 103a'that extends throughjt h'c rear'clos re plate 16 (Fig. 2) for connection'to asuitable'source'of water under pressure, such as the house line, and the outlet connection is connected to,the ice mold, .as pointedout hereinafter. In the passage 102g in the valve body 102, between the inlet and outlet connectiom there is located a filtering screen 104, and a combinedpressure regulator andyalve seat'105 having a relatively small passageway 1116 therethrough. Mounted onthe bodyme mber 1 0 2, as by a bracket 1'09, is a i'd which includes 4 a, winding 110 and a c 12. e Patte at w i w i Me valve 112 adapted to register with and close thepassageway 106 in the rubber pressure regulator and valve seat 105. The valve is biasedto closed position by a compression spring114. u

A tube 116 leads froinlthe outlet connection 107 of the valve, is bent in thefr nanner shown in Fig lZ and opens Into vertlcalhpassia-geway 432 =(F1g1 fgrmgd m the t Q of a vs r b fi luent release cycle is-Prevented. The therclosure memberf40 atlihe ieariof theicemhld. As shown in Figs. 1 and 11, the vertical passageway 42has alower outlet opening42q above and t o therear of the rear iceforming compartment oflthe icemold, and, so as to prevent siphoning the topjfof passageway {12 is open to the ambient. The wat e'r tu'b e 116 is preferably formed of a thermal insulating material and a material by which the tube maybe bent or iormedinto the shape'shown in n eld i at ha swi hou a ak o other obstructions therein. An excellent material for forming this tube is l ll e le As hWninFisel nd 2, the part of the water tube 116 that contains'water during a freezing cycle of the ice maker isin the insulation space of the refrigerator 'and is not subjected tothe freezing temperatures ofthe icemo ld orpf thefreezing compartment 12 of the refrigerator. A filler memberlfi (Fig. 2) 'locatedin the space hetween the rear of the freezing compartment 12 a:rid the rearinner wallilia of there- :frigerator surrounds the reanclosure memberfli) of the ice maker, and, afterjithe ice maker has been inserted as a unit into thelrefrigeratorthrough the opening 15 in the rear insulation the cover 16 applied, the space around .the rear of the ice maker is filled with blown insulation '(not shown) Controls As shownin'Figs. 1 and-am asptiint'ed' out'heie'to.

fore, the rear iceejfo'r'ming compartment of 'theice"m'old such asphenol formaldehyde that is a-good' thermal "and electricalinsulation. integrally formed on the front face of the closure member 40 is a raised portion that 'fit'sinto the rear of the ice mold and forms the rear wall 29 of the rear ice-forming compartment. The rear wall 29 is provided with an insulator 2521 (Figs 1 and 3), similar to the insulators 25 'on the upper edges of the mold partitions 22. A gasket 29aseals the rear outer surface 'of the mold casting against the adjacent front surface of the closure "member 40. The purpose of the insulating rear wall of the ice mold is to make sure'that'the water in the rear ice-forming compartmentis last to freeze, and complete freezing of the water in this rear compartment is -utilized to energize the ice release mechanism, as .disclosed and claimed in the above copending patent applica- 3 tl0 1 1 Of Harry C. Shagalolf, Serial No. 325,097, filed December 10, 1952.

For this purpose, in accordance with the instant invention, and as shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 16, a metal insert 120, preferably of, aluminum, is embedded in the reanwall 29 of the ice mold formed on the closure member 40. This insert comprises a cylindrical plug 120a, having its front surface in contact with water to be frozen in the rear iceforming compartment of the mold, an annular V-shaped groove 12Gb midway its length, into which the plastic is 25 molded, and an integral disk 129a formed on its rear. The

center of the upperhalfof disk '(Fig. 7) coincides substantially withthe longitudinal axis of thecylindricalplug a'nd thetrue center of the diskis provided with athreaded opening 120d. The sensirigielement '124 of the mold-therrriostatI22,is,'as shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 18, formed as a fiat coil of approximately the'sa'me diameter as the 'diameter of thediskJlZilc. This sensing element, iwhich is in fact the otherwisefree end of a capillary tube 123 of'the thermostat 122, is clamped against the disk 120s by an 3 aluminum adapter plate 125 held in-place by a screw 126 threaded into the opening 120d in the disk. The thermostat 122 is clamped to the rear of the metal closureiplat'e 41 (Fig. 12). by the bracket 101, and isprovided with an adjusting dial 122d, V v 40 s As in the above Shagaloff patent application Serial No.

325,097, the mold thermostat 122 includes a diaphragm system that operates above atmospheric-pressure and instigatesan ice release cycle onfalling pressure, while at the same time, if the pressure falls below normal, instiga- L ll inostat niustbe resetbeforean ice release'cycle can be completed. Thus, if the thermostat loses its charge or, is otherwise inoperative and the thermostat switch 122a (Fig. 4 isnot reset to the full line position before the it switch blade 150a is rnoved to the broken line position,

the ice maker stops with the water valve closed, as describedhereinafter A v A reset heater 1330 (Figs. 5, 7 and 16 forrcsetting the moldtherrhost'atQis clamped'to the adapterplatelZSior tran sferring heat to the sensingelement 12'4 ofthe mold therrnostat The reset heater130 includes an aluminum heat conductor 131 formed with a disk portion -131q at its front end (Fig. 7) and a grooved cylinder portion 131]) "extendirig rearwardly therefrom, into which grooves a pair (it of resis'tanc e wires 132 and 133 are wound. The he ating ends of theresist'ance wires 132 and 13: are joined h'y a :.bi 'r'riet'alhightemperature or limit switch 134, shownin :itsnor'rhal or closed position iii Fig. 17. An eleetrical insulating'disk 135 is placedbetween the rear oi the heat (3.) conductor 131 and the front of the liinit s w itc h l3 fl. The reset heater is encased in a cup-shaped housing 136, formed 'with liigsi1'37 on opposite sides there oi and attached to the adapter'plate1'25 by apair of screws 138 (Fig. 16 The 'hotis'in'g' 136' is pr'eferably formed of phenol formaldehyde in or othersuitable thermal and electrical insulating" material. -As'show n in Fig.l7, the high temperaturelirnit'switch 134 includesafbi -metal 'element 134a held at its center in aninsulatir'ig hoiising134b. Embedded-in theinsulat ir'ig housing is a p'air 'of terminals 134e, each'havirig one ehd 75 thereof in 'position to be contacted by'the bi' n'ietalele them 134a and each having a spring clip 134d to receive the resistance wires 132 and 133. As shown in Fig. 5, the wires 132 and 133 of the reset heater and the capillary tube 123 of the mold thermostat are encased in a sleeve 139 made of vinyl or other suitable insulating material. With this arrangement, the mold thermostat 122. is influenced only by the temperature of the sensing element 124 and not by ambient temperatures.- The sensing element, in turn, follows the temperature of the: water in the rear ice-forming compartment of the mold during freezing cycles, and the temperature of the reset heater 130 during thawing cycles. As shown in the wiring dia gram in Fig. 4, the reset heater 130 and the limit switch 134 are connected in series with the mold heater 30.

Referring now to Figs. 3, and 11, the micro switch 140, that deenergizes and reenergizes the compressor motor180 (shown only in the wiring diagram in Fig. 4) at the beginning and end, respectively, of an ice release cycle, is mounted by a pair of screws 142 upon a bracket 143, which bracket in turn is welded or otherwise secured to the metal closure plate 41. This micro switch includes a spring-pressed plunger 141 that is urged into contact with a cam 156, to be described in detail hereinafter, and when in contact with the high portion of the cam as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, which is the stationary position of the cam during an ice freezing cycle, the switch is in the full line position shown in Fig. 4 and the compressor motor 180 is energized; whereas shortly after the beginning of an ice release cycle, the high portion of the cam 156 leaves the plunger 141, and the switch 140 is shifted to the broken line position (Fig. 4), whereupon the compressor motor is deenergized, and remains so until near the end of an ice ejecting cycle when the high portion of the cam 156 again contacts the switch plunger 141 and returns the switch 140 to the full line position. As pointed out hereinafter, with certain installations it may be desirable to continue operation of the compressor motor during ice release cycles. In which case, the compressor motor 180 is connected directly to the conductor T2 (Fig. 4A) and the micro switch 140 is used only to establish and interrupt holding circuits.

Referring to Figs. 10, 11 and 20, the second micro switch 150, that energizes and deenergizes the solenoid valve 100, is also mounted on the closure plate 41 by a bracket and a pair of screws 152. This switch 150 includes a plunger 151 operated by a lever 153. This lever 153 is pivoted near its lower end (Fig. on a post 154, and its upper or free end is bifurcated to receive a roller 155. The roller rides upon the cam 156 and is urged into contact therewith by a compression spring 157. The cam 156 (as best shown in Figs. 3 and 20) comprises a front portion 156a fixedly mounted on the timing gear shaft 86 and a rear portion 156b adjustably mounted by a set screw 153 upon the shaft 86. The purpose of this adjustment is to vary the combined length of the high or camming surfaces of the front and rear portions of the cam; the combined length of which high portions of the cam determine the length of time that the solenoid valve 11%) is energized and water flows therethrough to the ice mold. In the particular embodiment disclosed, the cams 156a and 1561; may be adjusted to hold the solenoid valve energized, and therefore open, for a period of from 10 to 12 seconds. This adjustment, which is made at the factory during assembly of the ice maker, is to take care of any slight variations in the ejector motor, the gear assembly and/or the solenoid valve. It is to be noted that the plungers 141 and 151 of micro switches 14% and 150, respectively, are operated by the same cam 156, and during an ice freezing cycle the switches 140 and 150 are in the full line positions (Fig. 4) with the compressor motor energized and the solenoid valve deenergized.

Referring again to Figs. 3, l0 and 11, the micro switch 160, that automatically deenergizes the ice maker when the ice receptacle 19 (Fig. 8) is filled with a given amount of ice pieces, is mounted on a bracket 162, the lower end of which is attached by a screw 163 to the metal closure plate 41, and the upper end of which is adjustably connected to the closure plate by a screw 164 having a compression spring 165 (Fig. 3) thereon. The micro switch 160 includes a spring-pressed plunger 161 operated by a cam 166 mounted on a shaft 167, which shaft is journalled at its ends in partition walls 43 and 44 of the rear closure member 40. The purpose of the adjusting screw 164 is to center the plunger 161 below the cam 166 (Fig. 19). A lift arm 170 (Figs. 3 and 11), including a sleeve 171 with a roller 172 attached thereto by a shoulder screw 173, is fixedly and adjustably mounted on the shaft 167, near the partition wall 43. A second sleeve 174 is attached to the opposite end of the shaft 167 and a stoparm 175, made of stainless steel or other relatively rigid material, is attached at one end to sleeve 174. The stoparm is formed with an off-set near its attached end (as shown in Figs. 1 and 3) and is provided with a relatively heavy metal ball 176 on its free end. The lift arm 170 is raised by a cam member 1560 formed on the front surface of the cam 156.

The arrangement is such that upon rotation of the timing gear assembly 85 the high portion of the cam 156a is brought into contact with the roller 172, whereupon the shaft 167 is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 19) through a given are. This clockwise rotation of the shaft 167 brings the high portion of cam 166 into contact with the switch plunger 161, which depresses the plunger and opens the switch 160 (Fig. 4), thereby opening a circuit to the ejector motor in which this switch is contained. Clockwise rotation of the shaft 167 also lifts the stoparm 175 and attached ball 176 from the full line position (Fig. 2) to the first or intermediate broken line position. Continued rotation of the timing gear assembly (Fig. 3) causes the high portion of cam 1560 to leave the roller 172 on the lift-arm 170, whereupon, assuming that the ice receptacle 19 (Fig. 8) is not yet filled with ice pieces, the ball 176 falls by gravity and through the arm 175 rotates the shaft 167 counterclockwise to its normal position which removes the high portion of cam 166 from the switch plunger 161, and this in turn causes the switch to return to its closed position (Fig. 4).

Should the ice receptacle 19 be filled with the desired amount of ice pieces when the arm 175 is lifted, gravity movement of the ball 176 and stop-arm 175 is blocked by the ice, causing the switch 160 to remain open after the high portion of cam 1560 has left the lift-arm and until some ice has been removed from the receptacle 19. So as to adjust the travel of the shaft 167, cam 166, stop-arm and ball 176, the lift-arm 170 is adjustably fixed to the shaft 167 by a pair of screws 177 (Figs. 1 and 11), access to which screws may be had by removing the spring-held button 178 from the front of the closure member 40 (Figs. 1 and 19). To insure against accidental piling up of ice pieces along the left side of the mold (Fig. 8) and interfering with the operation of the ejector mechanism, the ball 176 is made to travel in a path relatively close to the side of the mold by the offset in the stop arm 175. Should ice pieces so tend to pile up, gravity movement of the ball and stop arm is blocked, whereupon the ice maker is deenergized.

Mounted on the top wall of the freezing compartment 12 of the refrigerator (Figs. 2 and 8) directly above the stop-arm 175 is a spring clip 179. With this arrangement, the ice maker may be shut down and caused to stand idle at will by manually lifting the ball 176 and stop-arm 175 to the upper broken line position (Fig. 2) and engaging the arm in the spring clip 179. With the stop-arm 175 engaged in the spring clip 179, the ice maker will complete a freezing cycle, but, because the switch blade 160a of micro switch 16:) is held in open position (Fig. 4) against a dead terminal 1600, a subsequent ice ejecting cycle cannot be initiated. Therefore, the ice maker stands idle with a batch' of ice pieces frozen in the mold and a second batch of ice resting on the ejector mechanism above the mold (Fig. 8) 'ready to be discharged into the Storage receptacle 19. Operation of the ice maker may be resumed by manually removing the stop-arm 175 from engagement with the spring clip 179.

Wiring diagram Referring to Fig. 4, T1 and T2 are the two sides of a 11-5 volt A. C. supply circuit, between which are conriected by several circuits, themotor 180 -for the refrigeration system, the micro switches 140, 150 and 160, the

blade-140a (in full line position) of micro switch 140,

a stationary contact 140b, a conductor 200 in which is located aswitch 100a of a thermostat 190 for the refrigerating system, the compressor motor 180, and The sensing bulb 19Gb of thermostat 190 is placed in thermal contact with the refrigerating 'coil =18 (*Fig. 8

In installations where it is desirable to-continue operation of the refrigerating system, and, therefore, of the *compressor motor 180 during ice release cycles, the "conductor 200' to the compressor motor may be connected directly to the conductor T2, as shown in Fig. 4A. In which case, the stationary contact 140k becomes a dead terminal and the micro-switch 140' is used only to establish and interrupt holding circuits, as described hereinafter. The remainder of the wiring diagram not shown in Fig. 4A is the same as that shown in Fig. 4.

Referringagain to Fig. 4, a second circuit (a first circuit for the ejector motor'80) includes the conductor T2, a conductor 201, movable switch blade 160a (in full line position) ofmicro switch 160, a stationary contact 16012, a conductor 202, a stationary contact 122b, -a movable switch blade 122a (in broken line position) of the ice mold thermostat 122, a conductor 203, a statio'nary;contact 140e, a-conductor 204, astationary contact 150b, a movable switch blade 150a (in full line Eposition) of micro-switch 150, a conductor 205, the motor field 80a, the motor limit switch 80b, -a conductor 206,;a conductor 207 and T1. -A third'circuit (second circuit for the ejector motor 80) includes the conductor T2, movable'switch blade 140a -(in broken line position) of micro switch-140, the stationary contact 1400, con-'' ductor "204, stationary contact 150b, movable switch -blade150a (in full lineposition), conductor-205, motor field'80a, motor limit switch 80b, conductor -206,'conductor 207 and T1.

A fourth circuit (third circuit for'the' ejector-motor 80) includes T1, movable switch blade1 a (in brokenli'ne 30, -aconductor 210, resistancewire 1-32, limit switch 134 and resistance wire 133 of the reset heater130, a con- -ductor-211,'conduct'or 207 and TI. This circuit to-the mold-heater and'reset heater is energized when switch blade 160a isin full line position, switch blade 122a is 'in'broke'n line position and switch blade 150a is infull -'lineiposition, and when Switchblade 140a'is'in broken 'linepositionand switch blade 150a is in full line 'position, and when Switchblade 140d isin broken line 'pos'it ion "and"switch"blade122a isin full linepos'i tion. Thusjthe =1'nold heater 30* and reset heater 130 are energized at-all times that the ejector motor is energized. Also, as pointed out heretofore, the reset heater 130 with its :high temperature limit switch 134 is in series with the .mold heater 130. With this arrangement both the mold heater and the reset heater are automatically 'deenergized responsive to a given high temperature of the reset heater, which high temperature indicates that something has gone wrong with the circuits. For example, the overload switch 80b of the ejector motor may have opened, thereby stopping the 'motor '80 with the mold heater and reset heater energized.

A sixth circuit (the circuit for the solenoid water valve is in parallel with that part of the circuits for the ejector motor '80 between the microswitch 150 and the motor limit switch 80b) includes the movable switch blade 150a (in broken line position), a stationary contact 1500, a conductor 212, the coil of solenoid '100, a conductor 213, the limit switch 80b of the ejector motor 80, conductors 206, 207 and TI. This is the only circuit for the solenoid water valve and is energized only when the movable switch blade a is in broken line position, the movable switch blade 122a is in full line position, the movable switch blade 15011 is in the broken'lineposition, and the motor limit switch 80b is closed. The movable 1 switch blade a is in the broken line position "only when the high portions of cams 156a and v156 12 '(Figs. 10 and 11) are brought into contact with the roller of micro-switch 150. The high portions of cams 156a and and at a time that the ejector motor'is disconnected from the ejector shafts. If for any reason there should bean electric power failure, or should the overload switch =80b of the ejector motor open when the switch-blade 150a is in the broken line position, the solenoidis de'energizedand the valve 112 (Fig. 15) is closed by the compression spring '114.

Operation In operation, assuming 'thatthe several-switches'are in the full line position shown in Fig. '4,"thatthe ice'recept'acl'e 19 (Fig. 8) is not yet filled withthe=desired quantity of ice pieces and that the stop arm is-inthe full line or lowermost position in Fig. 2; in other words, the ice maker is in operation. With the several swit'c'hesin'the full line position shown'in Fig. '4, the'compressormotor is energized and waterisbein'g "frozeninthes'everal compartments of the ice mold. :Due to the factth'atthe end wall 29 of the rear ice forming compartrnentof'the mold is made of thermal insulating materialywater in' the 'rear'ice forming compartment will be last to freeze, and

when this water is completely frozen,thetemperatureon the surface 120a in contact with the waterbeing frozen (26-28 F.) is reflected through the metal insert 120'(Fig.

'5) to the sensing element 124 of'the'mold*thermostat, whereupon the thermostat switch 122a is shifted fro'r'n'the full to' the broken lineposition (Fig. 4-). This'shiftingof the thermostat switch 122a establishes'an initialcir'cuit from T2 through connector 201, stop arm switch 160a,

(in fullline position) stationary terminal 160b, conductor 202, stationary terminal 12%, thermostatic switch blade 122a (in'broken line position), conductor 203,"stationary conductor-140e, conductor 204,"stationary conductor-150b,

switch blade 150a (in 'full line position), a'conductor 205, motor field 80a, motorlimit switchBtib; conductor 206, conductor 207 and T1, whereupon the-ejector motor 60 is energized. The shifting of thethermostatswit'ch 122a to the broken line position also establishes aparal'lel circuit through the conductor 209,the mold heater 30,

conductor210, resistance wire'132,'limit switch 134, and resistance wire 133 of the reset heater I30; conductor 2ll, conduct-or 207-and T1, whereupon tha -mold heater 30 5 and the reset heater 130 are energized.

is timing gear 88, timing cam 90, and cam 156. The ejector motor 80 is otherwise unloaded during its initial energization. Running the ejector motor unloaded during the initial energization thereof is important in case the dried ice pieces (Fig. 8) are frozen to the ejector blades due to prolonged standing of the ice maker. Shortly after the cam 156 begins to rotate, the high portion of cams 156a and 156]) leave the plunger 141 of microswitch 140, whereupon the movable switch blade 140a is shifted from the full to the broken line position in Fig. 4. This shifting of the switch blade 140a deenergizes the compressor 180 of the refrigerating system and establishes a holding circuit from T2 to T1 through the switch blade 140a (in broken line position), stationary contact 1401:, conductor 204, stationary contact 150b, movable switch blade 150a, (in full line position) conductor 205, ejector motor 80, and conductors 206 and 207. This shifting of the switch blade 140a also establishes a holding circuit through the mold heater 30 and the reset heater 130. In installations when the conductor 200 is connected directly to the coni2 ductor T2, as shown in Fig. 4A, shifting of the switch blade 14% to the broken line position has no effect on the operation of the compressor motor 180. With continued rotation of the ejector motor and the timing gear assembly, the cam surface 1560 on the front of cam 156 is brought in contact with the roller 172 (Fig. 11) of the stop arm assembly 170, whereupon the shaft 167 is rotated clockwise (Fig. 19) with the result that the plunger 161 of microswitch 160 is depressed and the switch blade 160a is shifted from the full to the broken line position (Fig. 4) Rotation of the shaft 167 also lifts stop arm 175 and attached ball 176 to the first broken line position in Fig. 2.

At about this point in the rotation of the ejector motor and the timing gear assembly, the high portion 90a of cam 90 (Figs. and 14) will have been removed from the low portion 78b of cam 78, and the toothed portion 88a of gear 88 will have meshed with the teeth of the ejector gear 77, whereupon the ejector gear 77, ejector shaft 76, ejector cam 78, coupling member 74 and the ejector shaft 71 with fingers 72 attached thereto are rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 8). This clockwise rotation of the ejector shaft 71 and attached fingers 72 causes the dried ice pieces that have been resting on the ejector fingers 72 and on the insulators (Fig. 8) to be discharged over the side of the mold into the ice receptacle 19. Shortly after the batch of ice pieces have been discharged over the side of the mold, the timing mechanism will have rotated to the point that the high portion of cam surface 156:: will have passed the roller 172 on stop arm assembly 170, whereupon the weighted ball 176 on stop arm 175 will fall by gravity (assuming that the ice receptacle 19 is not yet filled with ice pieces) and rotate the shaft 167 counterclockwise (Fig. 19) thereby removing the high portion of cam 166 from switch plunger 161 and returning switch blade 160a to the full line position (Fig. 4). Should the ice receptacle 19 be filled with the desired quantity of ice, at this point, the weighted ball 176 will be held up by the ice and the stop switch 160a will be held in the broken line or open position (Fig. 4). However, because of the holding circuit through switch blade 140a, (in broken line position) the ejecting cycle will continue to completion, but a new ejecting cycle cannot be initiated until some ice pieces have been removed from the storage receptacle 19 and the stop switch 160a closed.

The ejector motor continues to rotate until the ejector fingers 72 contact the ice frozen solidly in the several compartments of the mold, whereupon the ejector motor is stalled. However, the ejector motor 80, the mold heater and the reset heater 130 remain energized, with the motor urging the ejector fingers against the ice so that the instant the ice is thawed free of the mold compartments, the motor 80 resumes its rotation and the ejector blades sweep the ice pieces from the mold and bring them for rest in the drying or upside-down 14 position shown in Fig. 8. The horizontal taper, in the transverse partitions 22 of the ice mold (Fig. 3) facilitates removal of the ice pieces from the mold compartments. However, in order to provide some resistance to removal of the ice pieces and thereby prevent any of them being flipped from the mold, the partitions are given a slight taper in the vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 5. By the time the ice pieces have been removed from the mold the reset heater 130 will have reset the thermostat switch blade 122a to the full line position shown in Fig. 4, the high portion of cam 166 on shaft 167 will have drawn away from the switch plunger 161 and the switch blade 160a will have returned to its full line position (Fig. 4), assuming that the ice receptacle 19 is not yet filled with ice and that the stop arm 175 and attached ball 176 have returned to the lower or full line position of Fig. 2.

By the time that the ejector motor has rotated the ejector shaft 71 and attached ejector blades 72 to the position shown in Fig. 8, the toothed portion 88a of timing gear 88 (Fig. 14) will have left the teeth of the ejector gear 77, and the high portion 90a of timing cam 90 will be in contact with the low portion 78b of the ejector cam 78, whereby the ejector shaft 71 and attached fingers 72 are locked in the position shown in Fig. 8, and the ejector motor is again unloaded, although it continues to rotate. During this unloaded period of rotation of the ejector motor, the high portion of cams 158a and 1581) will contact the roller 155 on switch arm 153, whereupon the plunger 151 of micro switch 150 (Fig. 20) is depressed and remains so depressed for approximately ten seconds during which time the switch blade 150a (Fig. 4) is in the broken line position and the coil 110 of the solenoid water valve is energized, whereupon water in a metered quantity flows through the solenoid valve 100, the outlet tube 116, vertical passage 42 and outlet passage 42a (Figs. 8 and 11) into the rear ice forming compartment of the mold. From the rear ice forming compartment, the water flows through the notches 24 in the mold partitions to the forward compartments of the mold. The ejector motor 80 and the timing gear assembly continue to rotate unloaded, whereupon the high portions of cams 156a and 156b withdraw from the roller 155 of switch arm 153, thereby shifting the switch 150a back to the full line position which deenergizes and closes the solenoid valve 100. Shortly thereafter, the high portions of cams 156a and 156b will have returned to the positions shown in Figs. 10 and 11 with the plunger 141 of micro-switch 140 depressed and the switch blade 140a shifted back to the full line position in Fig. 4, which ends the ejecting cycle and starts the next freezing cycle, with the ejector motor, the mold heater, the reset heater and the solenoid water valve deenergized, and with the compressor motor energized.

It is to be noted that with the switch blade 150a in the broken line position (Fig. 4), the only circuit to the coil of the solenoid water valve 100 is from T2 through switch blade a (in broken line position), stationary contact 1400, conductor 203, switch blade 122a (in full line position) stationary contact 1220, conductor 208, switch blade a (in broken line position) stationary contact 1500, conductor 212, coil 110,

.; conductor 213, limit switch 80b of the ejector motor,

conductor 206, and conductor 207 to T1. Also, with the switch blade 150a in broken line position, the only circuit to the ejector motor 80, the mold heater 30 and the reset heater 130 is through conductor 208. Therefore, should the thermostat switch 122a fail to reset to the full line or warm position shown in Fig. 4 by the time the micro-switch 1500: has been shifted to the broken line position, the entire ice maker is rendered inoperative, with the ejector motor, the compressor motor, the mold heater, the reset heater and solenoid water 15 valve deenergized, and with the water valve closed. Inability of the reset heater 130 to reset the thermostat switch 122a is an indication that the thermostat has failed, lost its charge, and must be replaced before the ice maker can be rendered operative.

Also, it is to be noted that the coil 110 of the solenoid Water valve 100 is wired in series with the overload limit switch 80b of the ejector motor, so that, should the switch 80b open for any reason as by overheating due to prolonged stalling or by motor failure, and stop the ejector motor While the high portion of cams 156a. and 1516b are in contact with the roller 155 of microswitch 1543, thereby holding the switch blade 150a in the broken line position (Pig. '4) with the solenoid v.coil "1'10 energized and the water valve open, the coil 1-10 is immediately deenergized and the valve closed. Furthermore, the reset heater 130 with bi-metal limit switch 134 is wired -in series with the mold heater 30, so that excess temperatures :of both the mold heater and the reset heater are avoided. The limit switch 134 is set to open ext-approximately $135 F. and close at approximately 85 F.

'Without further description it is thought that the novel features and advantages of the invention 'will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which .this invention appertains, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromithe spirit of the invention and scope of the V-claims. c

What iseclaimed is: W

l. :In-an automatic-ice maker, an ice mold, electrically- ,operated means for filling the mold with water to be frozen, refrigerating means for freezing the water 'inthe mold, vanejectormechanism including an electric motor forremoving -ice from the mold and for thereafter energizing said 'sfillin'g means, said electric motor having an overload limit switch in acircuit thereof, and saidelectric motor and said electrically-operated fillingmeans being wired in an electric circuit with said overloadlimit switch in a'manner as ,todeenergize both-the-electric motor-and the .electrically operated' filling-means=upon the opening of said limit switch.

2. An automatic ice 'maker as set forth in claim 1 .whereinsaid electricallyvoperated-filling-means is a solenoid-operated water valve thatis energizedand deenergized "responsive to rotationof said electricmotor-and vWherein-saidvalve is-automatically closed u-pontheopening of the overloadlimitswitch ofsaid motor.

'3. In an-automatic ice maker, an'ice.mold, means for filling the -mold with water to be :frozen, refrigerating means'for'freezing the-water in'the mold,=an-ejectormechanism including an electric:motorfonremoving icefrom the mold, -said electric motor having an overload limit switch in acircuit thereof, a control: including: a thermostat operative responsive to the freezing of ice in the mold for: energizing said ejector mechanism,.-said overload limitaswitch'and -said thermostat bcing-soconstructed and arranged as to=preventoperation of the filling means upon opening'of the overload limit switch or failure of the thermostat.

, *4. In. an automatic ice maker, an ice=mold, means-for filling the'mold with Water to be frozen, refrigerating meansforfreezing the water intoice inthe mold,,ejector mechanismfor removing the ice-from'the mold,-an electric motor for'energizing -and deenergizing the-fillingand refrigerating means and for driving the ejector mechanism, s-andtiming mechanism connectingthe-electr-ic motorwith vthe filling means, the refrigerating means and ejector mechanism in amanner that the motor is unloaded when .the -,refrigeratir means -is ideenergized, loaded by the ejector .mechanism, Sandunloaded during the energization ofthefillingmeans. p

h .In.an.,a1 1tomatic. ice. maker,,an. ice mold, vmeans for ifilling :the' mold .with .water totbe frozen, refrigerating means for freezing the water in the mold, an ejector mechanism for removing the ice from the mold, said ejector mechanism including an ice-contact member movable into contact with ice in the mold for removing the .ice therefrom, a motor for driving said ice-contact member and a timing mechanism connecting said motor to said ice-contact member, said timing mechanism having means therein to cause the motor to rotate unloaded for a first period, to connect the motor to the ice-contact member for movement thereof for a second period and to rotate the motor unloaded for a third period in a cycle of opera- .tion.

6. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 5 vvherein said timing mechanism includes means for deenergizing the refrigerating means during the first unloaded period of rotation of said motor.

7. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 5 wherein said timing mechanism includes means for energizing said mold filling means during the second unloaded .periodof rotation-of said motor.

8. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 5 wherein said timing mechanism includes means for ener- .gizing said mold filling means for a definite time interval during the second unloaded ,period of rotation of said .motor, and means for varying the time interval during which the;fillingmeans is energized.

9. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 5 wherein said timing mechanism includes means for lockingsaid ic'e-contactmember in-a stationary position during the unloadediperiods of-rotationof said motor.

10. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 5 wherein said timing mechanism includes means for de- -energizing said motor and for locking said ice-contact member in a-predetermined position-during deenergized ,periods of the motor.

l1.An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 5 which includes a storage receptacle for receiving ice from said ice-contact member, and wherein said timing mechanism includes cut-out means for deenergizing said ice maker responsive to the accumulation of an optimum :amount'of-iceinsaid-storagereceptacle.

1 2. An automatic ice maker;as set :forth in claim 11 wherein said cut-out means includes manually-operated .means for deenergizing said ice maker at will.

13. 'lnzanautomatic ice maker, an ice-mold, a member mountedon theicemaker and-movable through the mold for removing ice from the moldand for bringing such ice to rest :for drying wetted surfaces =thereof, andthermal O -insulating;means :cooperating with said-member for supportingsuch ice-while drying.

'14. In an automatic ice maker, an ice mold, upright partition means fforfdividing said .moldinto Y a, plurality of 15. -An,-ice maker comprising a freezing section, an

ice-storagebin, a heat exchange element in the freezing section on :whichdiquidds frozen;aud from which iceds conveyed to the'storagebin, means to cool said Eheat exchange element and means-for controlling the operation of said ice makeL-said control'means including -a movable membenbiased toa-position for operating the iceimak er and movable to-a-position-for stoptping the --ice maker, means 'for -moving said -movable member to stopping -positionduring each delivery of ice to said storage bin and forreturning .said movable member to operating ;position :after .the delivery of ice i to the storage bin providedwthebin .is not,filled with ice, .and means for holdingsaidmember instopping position to thereby deenergize the ice maker regardless of the. amountof ice inthe storage bin.

16. An ice maker as set forth in claim 15 wherein said movable member is a lever biased by gravity to operating position, and wherein said holding means is a catch to retain the lever in stopping position regardless of the amount of ice in the storage bin.

17. In an automatic ice maker, a multi-compartment ice mold formed of metal and having one end wall thereof formed of thermal insulating material, means for filling said mold with water to be frozen, refrigerating means for freezing the water in the mold compartments, means for removing the ice from the mold, a metal insert embedded in said one end wall of the mold and having a first surface thereof in contact with water in one of the mold compartments and a second surface thereof accessible from the exterior of the mold, a thermostat operable responsive to the freezing of water in said one mold compartment for energizing said ice removing means, said thermostat including a sensing element in thermal contact with the second surface of metal insert, a diaphragm-operated switch portion remote from said sensing element and a capillary tube connecting the sensing element and the switch portion, and a reset heater having a first portion thereof in thermal contact with said sensing element and a second portion thereof in thermal contact with said capillary tube.

18. In an automatic ice maker, an ice mold, means for dividing the mold into a plurality of ice forming compartments, means for filling the mold with water to be frozen, refrigerating means for freezing the water in the mold, means for freeing the ice from the mold, means for removing the ice from the mold and control means for said filling, freezing, freeing and removing means, said ice mold having a wall of one compartment thereof at least partially insulated from the freezing means whereby the water is completely frozen in the other of the plurality of compartments before being completely frozen in said one compartment, a metal insert embedded in said wall and having a first surface thereof in contact with water in said one compartment and a second surface accessible from the exterior of said mold, said control means including a thermostat having a temperature sensing element in thermal contact with the second surface of said metal insert, a diaphragm-operated switch portion re mote from said sensing element and a capillary tube connecting said sensing element and said switch portion, and a reset heater having a first portion thereof in thermal contact with said sensing element and a second portion in thermal contact with said capillary tube remote from said sensing element and a high temperature cut-out for said reset heater.

19. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 18 wherein the means for freeing ice from the mold includes an electric heater that is connected in series with the high temperature cut-out of said reset heater.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,077,820 Arp Apr. 20, 1937 2,161,321 Smith June 6, 1939 2,181,582 Gerber Nov. 28, 1939 2,269,642 Zerk Jan. 13, 1942 2,364,559 Storer Dec. 5, 1944 2,407,058 Clum Sept. 3, 1946 2,460,341 Erickson Feb. 1, 1949 2,487,408 Askin Nov. 8, 1949 2,493,900 Schaberg Jan. 10, 1950 2,545,558 Russell Mar. 20, 1951 2,559,414 Erickson July 3, 1951 2,593,106 Copeman Apr. 15, 1952 2,682,155 Ayres June 29, 1954 2,685,952 Hamlin Aug. 10, 1954 

